William Frawley

William Frawley

Acting
Born 1887-02-25 - Died 1966-03-03Burlington, Iowa, USA

Biography

William Frawley was born in Burlington, Iowa. As a boy he sang at St. Paul's Catholic Church and played at the Burlington Opera House. His first job was as a stenographer for the Union Pacific Railroad. He did vaudeville with his brother Paul, then joined pianist Franz Rath in an act they took to San Francisco in 1910. Four years later he formed a light comedy act with his new wife Edna Louise Broedt, "Frawley and Louise", touring the Orpheum and Keith circuits until they divorced in 1927. He next moved to Broadway and then, in 1932, to Hollywood with Paramount. By 1951, when he contacted Lucille Ball about a part in her TV show I Love Lucy (1951), he had performed in over 100 films. His Fred Mertz role lasted until the show ended in 1960, after which he did a five-year stint on My Three Sons (1960). Poor health forced his retirement. He collapsed of a heart attack on March 3, 1966, aged 79, walking along Hollywood Boulevard after seeing a movie. He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Movies (116)

Miracle on 34th Street
7.4

Miracle on 34th Street

1947Movie7.4
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
7.5

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

1947Movie7.5
Gentleman Jim
7.2

Gentleman Jim

1942Movie7.2
Bolero
6.4

Bolero

1934Movie6.4
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
6.7

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1939Movie6.7
Flame of Barbary Coast
5.5

Flame of Barbary Coast

1945Movie5.5
Roxie Hart
7.0

Roxie Hart

1942Movie7.0
The Princess Comes Across
6.2

The Princess Comes Across

1936Movie6.2
The Virginian
6.2

The Virginian

1946Movie6.2
The Fighting Seabees
6.2

The Fighting Seabees

1944Movie6.2
Desire
7.0

Desire

1936Movie7.0
Monsieur Verdoux
7.7

Monsieur Verdoux

1947Movie7.7
Rancho Notorious
6.5

Rancho Notorious

1952Movie6.5
Ex-Champ
7.3

Ex-Champ

1939Movie7.3
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
6.3

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

1951Movie6.3
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
7.5

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

1948Movie7.5
Going My Way
6.7

Going My Way

1944Movie6.7
Ziegfeld Follies
6.0

Ziegfeld Follies

1945Movie6.0
Here Is My Heart
7.3

Here Is My Heart

1934Movie7.3
Whistling in Brooklyn
7.0

Whistling in Brooklyn

1943Movie7.0
Roberta
7.1

Roberta

1935Movie7.1
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
6.8

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

1950Movie6.8
Down to Earth
6.0

Down to Earth

1947Movie6.0
East Side, West Side
7.1

East Side, West Side

1949Movie7.1
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
6.0

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

1949Movie6.0
Lady on a Train
6.7

Lady on a Train

1945Movie6.7
The Farmer's Daughter
5.3

The Farmer's Daughter

1940Movie5.3
Wildcat
5.7

Wildcat

1942Movie5.7
One Night in the Tropics
5.8

One Night in the Tropics

1940Movie5.8
It Happened in Flatbush
5.4

It Happened in Flatbush

1942Movie5.4
Double or Nothing
6.7

Double or Nothing

1937Movie6.7
Touchdown, Army
7.5

Touchdown, Army

1938Movie7.5
Good Sam
6.3

Good Sam

1948Movie6.3
Three Cheers for Love
8.0

Three Cheers for Love

1936Movie8.0
College Scandal
6.8

College Scandal

1935Movie6.8
The General Died at Dawn
6.5

The General Died at Dawn

1936Movie6.5
Strike Me Pink
6.6

Strike Me Pink

1936Movie6.6
Rhubarb
5.8

Rhubarb

1951Movie5.8
Blondie in Society
6.4

Blondie in Society

1941Movie6.4
Rendezvous with Annie
7.0

Rendezvous with Annie

1946Movie7.0
The Lady Takes a Sailor
5.7

The Lady Takes a Sailor

1949Movie5.7
Opened by Mistake
7.0

Opened by Mistake

1940Movie7.0
Footsteps in the Dark
7.0

Footsteps in the Dark

1941Movie7.0
Blondie's Hero
6.8

Blondie's Hero

1950Movie6.8
The Bride Came C.O.D.
7.0

The Bride Came C.O.D.

1941Movie7.0
Rose of Washington Square
6.7

Rose of Washington Square

1939Movie6.7
High, Wide and Handsome
6.2

High, Wide and Handsome

1937Movie6.2
Rhythm on the River
6.9

Rhythm on the River

1940Movie6.9
Hold 'Em Yale
7.0

Hold 'Em Yale

1935Movie7.0
Chicken Every Sunday
6.2

Chicken Every Sunday

1949Movie6.2
Treat 'Em Rough
8.0

Treat 'Em Rough

1942Movie8.0
Cracked Nuts
7.0

Cracked Nuts

1941Movie7.0
Three Married Men
8.0

Three Married Men

1936Movie8.0
Professor Beware
6.0

Professor Beware

1938Movie6.0
Grand Jury Secrets
7.0

Grand Jury Secrets

1939Movie7.0
Mother Wore Tights
5.7

Mother Wore Tights

1947Movie5.7
Shoot the Works
6.7

Shoot the Works

1934Movie6.7
Untamed
5.0

Untamed

1940Movie5.0
Night Work
8.5

Night Work

1939Movie8.5
The Lemon Drop Kid
6.5

The Lemon Drop Kid

1951Movie6.5
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
7.0

Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

2000Movie7.0
Ship Cafe
8.0

Ship Cafe

1935Movie8.0
It's a Great Life
9.0

It's a Great Life

1935Movie9.0
Alibi Ike
6.2

Alibi Ike

1935Movie6.2
We've Never Been Licked
6.5

We've Never Been Licked

1943Movie6.5
The Crime Doctor
3.8

The Crime Doctor

1934Movie3.8
Red Light
5.9

Red Light

1949Movie5.9
The Quarterback
10.0

The Quarterback

1940Movie10.0
Hitchhike to Happiness
7.0

Hitchhike to Happiness

1945Movie7.0
The Babe Ruth Story
6.1

The Babe Ruth Story

1948Movie6.1
The Inner Circle
5.7

The Inner Circle

1946Movie5.7
St. Louis Blues
7.3

St. Louis Blues

1939Movie7.3
Hell and High Water
7.0

Hell and High Water

1933Movie7.0
Should Husbands Be Watched?
8.0

Should Husbands Be Watched?

1925Movie8.0
Pretty Baby
6.8

Pretty Baby

1950Movie6.8
Golden Gloves
6.0

Golden Gloves

1940Movie6.0
Harmony Lane
4.5

Harmony Lane

1935Movie4.5
Rose Bowl
7.0

Rose Bowl

1936Movie7.0
The Witching Hour
6.5

The Witching Hour

1934Movie6.5
Something to Sing About
6.2

Something to Sing About

1937Movie6.2
I Love Lucy: The Movie
7.7

I Love Lucy: The Movie

1953Movie7.7
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
6.0

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

1934Movie6.0
My Wild Irish Rose
6.0

My Wild Irish Rose

1947Movie6.0
Car 99
7.5

Car 99

1935Movie7.5
Blondie's Anniversary
5.9

Blondie's Anniversary

1947Movie5.9
Stop, Look and Love
6.5

Stop, Look and Love

1939Movie6.5
Persons in Hiding
3.8

Persons in Hiding

1939Movie3.8
Give Out, Sisters
6.0

Give Out, Sisters

1942Movie6.0
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
5.8

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948Movie5.8
F-Man
7.0

F-Man

1936Movie7.0
Larceny with Music
5.3

Larceny with Music

1943Movie5.3
Safe at Home!
5.0

Safe at Home!

1962Movie5.0
Mad About Music
7.0

Mad About Music

1938Movie7.0
Dancing on a Dime
5.0

Dancing on a Dime

1940Movie5.0
Welcome Home
9.0

Welcome Home

1935Movie9.0
The Lemon Drop Kid
6.3

The Lemon Drop Kid

1934Movie6.3
Sandy Gets Her Man
6.5

Sandy Gets Her Man

1940Movie6.5
The Girl from Manhattan
6.3

The Girl from Manhattan

1948Movie6.3
Ambush
6.0

Ambush

1939Movie6.0
Kill the Umpire
6.9

Kill the Umpire

1950Movie6.9
Those Were the Days!
8.0

Those Were the Days!

1940Movie8.0
Moonlight and Pretzels
9.0

Moonlight and Pretzels

1933Movie9.0
Gangs Of The City
7.0

Gangs Of The City

1941Movie7.0
Home in San Antone
7.0

Home in San Antone

1949Movie7.0
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
6.5

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

1956Movie6.5
Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer

1935Movie
Blossoms On Broadway
4.8

Blossoms On Broadway

1937Movie4.8
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
5.8

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

1941Movie5.8
Lake Placid Serenade
10.0

Lake Placid Serenade

1944Movie10.0
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
6.6

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

1946Movie6.6
Sons of the Legion
7.5

Sons of the Legion

1938Movie7.5
Moonlight in Havana
9.0

Moonlight in Havana

1942Movie9.0
The Dirty Look
7.0

The Dirty Look

1954Movie7.0
The Yankee Doodler
5.0

The Yankee Doodler

1942Movie5.0
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
10.0

I Love Lucy Christmas Special

2016Movie10.0
Ventriloquist

Ventriloquist

1927Movie

TV Shows (12)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
I Love Lucy
7.9

I Love Lucy

1951Series7.9
The Lucy Show
7.0

The Lucy Show

1962Series7.0
My Three Sons
6.6

My Three Sons

1960Series6.6
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
The Bob Hope Show
7.0

The Bob Hope Show

1950Series7.0
This Is Your Life
6.5

This Is Your Life

1952Series6.5
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6.3

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958Series6.3
The Gale Storm Show
6.7

The Gale Storm Show

1956Series6.7
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
8.7

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

1957Series8.7
The Ed Wynn Show
7.7

The Ed Wynn Show

1949Series7.7
Letter to Loretta
6.6

Letter to Loretta

1953Series6.6